Obituary of Mary A. Beirne

Mary A. Beirne, 83, died peacefully, Friday, September 24, 2004, in Little Brook Nursing Home, Califon, N.J. Born: In East Orange, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Luigi Aroneo and Maria Frino. Personal: She was one of ten children born to immigrant parents. She seemed to live to help others. Although she was born with a heart defect, she never let it stand in her way. In her adult life she became a "volunteer extraordinaire". Her long list of volunteer activities include Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, parents associations, rosary society, Up With People, bingo, senior citizens groups, and most recently, the Belvidere Nutrition Site. She was nominated for Warren County Woman of the Year in 2001, her 80th year. She was always family minded as well and cared for many sick friends and family members, both short term and long term. She was known as Minnie to those who loved her. She loved children and would always brag that she had nine grandchildren. They were constantly entertained with wonderful "Grandma Minnie" stories. She married Patrick J. Beirne at the age of eighteen on a dare. They were married 48 years when he died in 1987. She resided in the Oranges for most of her life, but moved to Belvidere, which she called "God's Country" 10 years ago. Survivors: two devoted children, a son, Thomas P. Beirne, of Wharton, N.J., and a daughter, Patti-Sue Rolak of Washington, N.J.; two brothers, George Araneo, in Massachusetts, and Louis Aroneo, of Springfield, N.J.; two sisters, Susan Garabrant, in North Carolina, and Beatrice Beirne, of Wayne, N.J.; her nine grandchildren, Christine DeCamp, of Toms River, N.J., John Butler, of Nashville, Tenn., Kelly Hayward, of Green Brook, N.J., Michael Beirne, of Newton, N.J., Sara Zalesky, of Pottstown, Pa., David Butler, of Rockaway, N.J., Amybeth Kupcha, of Nazareth, Pa., Colleen Tampier, of Rotunda, Fla., and John Patrick Rolak, of Washington, N.J.; nine great-grandchildren; many beloved nieces and nephews. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Belvidere, N.J., Father Charles Sabella will officiate. Call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, and from 8:45 a.m. until the time of Mass on Wednesday, in the Warren Hills / Ford Memorial Home, 234 West Washington Ave., Washington, N.J. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J. where she will be laid to rest with her husband. Memorials: In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity, 49 Park Ave., Washington, NJ 07882.